POMONA, N.Y. (Apr. 28, 2017) – The Molloy baseball team fell in a doubleheader at Saint Thomas Aquinas College, falling to 17-22 on the season and 10-9 in East Coast Conference play.

Game One: Molloy 2, STAC 7
The Lions fell behind in the first inning as junior Juan Adorno (Brooklyn, N.Y.) homered to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, redshirt senior Michael Rahn (Sayville, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch before senior Kevin Podell (Wantagh, N.Y.) batted him over to second with a single to right field. Both base runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball, but junior pitcher Frankie Moscatiello (Rocky Point, N.Y.) recorded two big strikeouts to keep Molloy off the board.

The Spartans exploded to a five-run lead in the home half of the inning, scoring on RBI singles from Nicholas Lucchese (Long Island, N.Y.) and Joseph Pena (Brooklyn, N.Y.) before Michael Morgan (Middle Village, N.Y.) drove in a run on a ground out to make it 5-0.

Junior Angelo Navetta (Staten Island, N.Y.) led off the top of the fourth with a double, advancing to third on a ground out by junior Elijah Leerdam (Jamaica, N.Y.). The first baseman scored on an error by the STAC third baseman to put Molloy on the board.

STAC extended the head in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double from Pena, setting the score at 6-1.

The Lions brought the contest to its 7-2 score on an RBI single from senior Brian Murphy (Elmont, N.Y.) in the top of the seventh.

Murphy, Navetta, Rahn, Podell, and freshman James Messina (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) each recorded hits for the maroon and white. Senior pitcher Ronald Bauer (Hicksville, N.Y.) pitched seven innings, striking out three batters while allowing seven runs on nine hits. Reliever Matt Castaneda (East Meadow, N.Y.) pitched one inning in relief, adding one strikeout.

Game Two: Molloy 4, STAC 7
The Spartans got off to a hot start in the second contest as junior Giovanni Dingcong (Daly City, Calif.) hit a three-run home run in the home half of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Murphy led off the top of the third with a single before stealing second. A fly out from senior Anthony Alberghina (Staten Island, N.Y.) moved Murphy to second before he was brought home as Leerdam reached due to an error by STAC's shortstop.

The home team, however, added an additional run in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Anthony Shkrelja (Bedford Hills, N.Y.).They would add three more in the fifth in a double from Pena and a second sacrifice fly from Shkrelja.

Trailing 7-1 in the eighth, Navetta was awarded first base after he was hit with the pitch before Rahn drew a walk. Senior Anthony Galanoudis (Farmingdale, N.Y.) reached on an error by the centerfielder, scoring both Rahn and Navetta. A single from junior Jack McCarty (Huntington, N.Y.) scored Galanoudis to cut STAC's lead to 7-4. Alberghina singled in the top of the ninth, but the rally would end there as the Lions were retired by George Navadel (El Paso, Texas).

Murphy led the team, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Senior Dominic Danetti (Wantagh, N.Y.) pitched five innings in the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits while striking out five batters. Freshman Anthony Vano (Babylon, N.Y.) and sophomores Lucas Burton (Glendale, N.Y.) and Ryan Doerschug (Commack, N.Y.) each pitched one inning in relief.

The Lions and Spartans will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex beginning at 1:00 p.m. The team will be honoring the members of the senior class in a pre-game ceremony.